The comic series featuring the infamous Predator is expected to be an interstellar adventure focusing on a young woman hunting them down. For a debut story in the Marvel Comics Universe, it's an interesting start to introduce readers to the horrifying alien. However, the Predator isn't one to let themselves go unnoticed as a series of variant covers for issues shows them infiltrating the Marvel Universe. One in particular stands out though because it shows the Predator doing what Spider-Man could never do himself.
One of the most infamous storylines in Marvel history is the death of Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, John Romita, and Tony Mortellaro. The arc follows Spider-Man attempting to rescue Gwen Stacy from the Green Goblin after he kidnaps her. However, when she falls, he tries to save her but ends up snapping her neck from the sudden stop, killing her. Shocked at her death, Spider-Man vows to kill the Goblin for what he's done...yet he never does kill him by his own hand. Instead, he dodges out of the way when the Goblin sends his glider to stab him, ending the final battle with him impaling himself. This was a decision made to prevent Spider-Man from becoming a killer, but the Predator has no qualms with doing this himself.
The Amazing Spider-Man #8 features a variant cover starring the Predator. Illustrated by Gabriele Dell'otto, they're shown looking at the severed head of the Green Goblin that's impaled on his wrist blades. Unlike Peter Parker, they managed to actually kill the Goblin by their own hands, adding his head to their collection. What sets the Predator apart from Spidey is that they don't have a super strict moral code. There are exceptions they make to their hunt including no attacking terminally ill people or people without weapons, but they're still relentless in their thrill of the hunt. Thus, they have no issue with directly killing the Goblin because they know what a threat he is and can take him down without remorse. Spider-Man, on the other hand, has his own image to uphold.
When Peter Parker jumped out of the way of the glider, making it impale the Goblin instead, it caused him to avoid becoming a superhero that kills, which is a huge staple for his character. Spider-Man is a character that was created to be more relatable to the reader, so having him kill could cause a divide between him and the fans. Making the Goblin accidentally impale himself was a smart way to exact revenge for the death of Gwen Stacy while also maintaining Spider-Man's moral code. He can't do what the Predator does because he needs to maintain his image as a "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man," and by taking a life, all of his respect would go down the tubes.
Given the Predator's lack of a tight moral code that Spider-Man abides by, it makes one curious who else he could take on in Spider-Man's rogue's gallery. Perhaps he could engage in a vicious duel with Kraven the Hunter or sever the arms of Doctor Octopus to gain the upper-hand. Regardless though, this new amazing Green Goblin cover art shows that the Predator in the Marvel Comics Universe can now do anything they please, and they can do what no ordinary hero like Spider-Man can do...for better or worse.
